Yes, I Mean You!

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This is a sermon based on Romans 2:1-16 and is a continuation of a series of messages on Romans.

Written Excerpts...

Introduction:

We have started a series of sermons on the book of Romans. Today is the 4^th installment in that series. We’ve had three sermons on chapter one and now we are ready to begin chapter two.

If you have been here for the previous messages, you may recall that we pointed out that the entire theme of this letter is presented in 1:16-17: i.e., the Gospel of Jesus Christ which reveals (brings to light, shows us) the righteousness of God.

In last week’s sermon, I tried to point out that the righteousness of God; His holy character; is revealed by his judgment or wrath against sinners. I mentioned that the wrath of God is something that we do not hear much about these days. Everyone wants to only focus on the love of God. But there is no real substance to the gospel if it doesn’t include the “bad news” that we are condemned and abiding under the wrath of God. The “good news” means that God’s wrath has been removed and satisfied through the death and shed blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary.

In the verses that we covered last week (1:18-32), Paul has been speaking primarily about the Gentile population in the world; those who did not have the privileges of receiving the special revelation of God through the prophets. Yet, in spite of this “disadvantage,” they still stand condemned and without excuse because they have sinned against the knowledge that God did provide to them through the general revelation of nature.

Have you ever experienced a time when you heard someone in authority (parent, teacher, law enforcement officer, etc.) bark out some kind of command or order and you look around to see who he/she is talking to. When you discover that the person is looking straight at you, you might get a questioning look on your face as you point to yourself as if to say, “You talking to me?”

At that moment the person says, “Yes, I mean you!”

As I read over the portion of Scripture that we are going to be discussing today, I got this same sense from the text. The Apostle has been explaining in the preceding verses (1:18-32) how God’s judgment is revealed against the pagan world. They are under the judgment and wrath of God because they have not obeyed nor lived up to the basic knowledge of God they had received by simply looking at the creation.

It almost seems like Paul realizes or assumes that there would be Jewish people who would read this letter and say, “Amen. That’s right. You tell ‘em, Paul. Those pagan Gentiles are under the wrath of God.” So immediately, Paul turns his attention to the Jews and points out that they are under the judgment of God as well.

Remember, we’re still talking about the Righteousness of God being revealed in the judgment or wrath of God. (1:17)

As we specifically discuss Paul’s message to the Jewish audience, we want to notice three things about God’s judgment of the Jew: God judges according to truth. God judges according to human conduct. God judges according human knowledge.

Transition:

Let us focus our attention on the first half of chapter two in order to learn three key concepts about the judgment of God.

I. God judges according to truth. (2:1-5)

Beginning with verse 1, we need to point out that there is some disagreement among scholars about whether he is actually speaking to the Jews yet, or if he is speaking to every person, Jew & Gentile, who self-righteously condemns others while excusing their own ungodly conduct. (i.e., “the good moral person”)

If this is the case, then his attention is turned specifically to the Jew in verse 17.

The implied principle here is that normal human behavior tends to “judge ourselves by ourselves.” It is assumed that the guilty party has been condemning others while justifying himself.

v.2 – Paul points out that the remedy to that problem is to remember that God is the final judge of everyone and His judgment is according to truth. He never misses a detail and He never makes a mistake.

“doing same things” – may not be the same exact actions, but the same type of conduct; disobeying the light of truth they had received.

Jesus had something similar to say to the Pharisees in His ministry, “Take the beam out of your own eye before trying to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

v. 3 – Justifying ourselves will not make us exempt from the judgment of God.

v. 4 – If these hypothetical people that he is talking about here are really Jews, then they probably felt as though they were exempt from the judgment of God because of the fact that they were part of the “chosen people of God.” They didn’t realize the fact that God’s act of withholding judgment on them was for the purpose of giving them time to repent for their disobedience.

2 Peter 3:9 (NLT) The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

v.5 – However, for those who refuse to take advantage of the love, patience and goodness of God, they are storing up judgment.

cf. – Proverbs 29:1 (NKJV) He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

So, the first concept of judgment is that God judges according to truth. It will not be based on our own ideas or opinions.

This brings us to the second point in this text.

II. God judges according to human conduct. (2:6-11)

v. 6 – He will render to every man according to his deeds.

This is a simple statement of the fact. (It is a word-for-word quote from the Greek transl. LXX of Psalm 62:12, which would have been familiar to the Jewish readers.)

Most scholars do not believe that Paul is trying to saying anything here about salvation and eternal destiny being based on works. (This would be completely contrary to other statements made by the Apostle.) However, the fact of the matter is, our actions or deeds demonstrate what is the desire and motive of our hearts, and what is of primary importance to us.

vv. 7-10 – The judgment of God results in only two possibilities:

1. eternal life – which includes “glory,” “honor,” “immortality,” and “peace.” (7,10)

·          “patient continuance” is a requirement

2. indignation and wrath – two similar words. One focuses on the inner quality of God’s nature while the other focuses on the outflow of that quality in divine retribution. (8-9)

·          Self-seeking; disobeys the truth; obeys unrighteousness; does evil

·          “Jew first and the Greek” – probably a hint regarding the privileges one had over the other in receiving the truth of revelation, but will not be of any benefit at the time of judgment; it comes equally to both.

v. 11 – “No partiality (favoritism) with God.” Probably a reference back to the previous verse in which it is affirmed that the rewards and punishments handed out by God are extended to the Jew and the Greek, and it will be without partiality.

There are two primary applications that I think we can make from Paul’s emphasis in these verses regarding human conduct.

a. For non-believers who tend to think that God is going to take all the good and the bad in our lives and kind of put it all on the balance to see if the good outweighs the bad, Paul is saying, no, we will be judged for every thing we do that is disobedient, unrighteous or evil.

b. For Christians who tend to think that once we’re saved it really doesn’t matter what we do or how we live… that thinking gives us the same attitude of privilege that the Jews had acquired. God wants us to know that evil conduct will still be judged.

Finally, let’s move on to learn a third concept regarding the judgment of God as presented by the Apostle.

III. God judges according to human knowledge. (2:12-16)

The whole point that Paul seems to be making in this section of the text is that on the day of judgment, God will factor in the amount of knowledge a person has had.

Paul seems to be emphasizing to the Jewish readers here that God is not going to judge them more favorably just because they have been the recipients and guardians of the law or because they are the covenant people of God. God will require every person, Jew and Gentile, to be accountable according to the amount of light or knowledge they have received.

The person who does not have the law, but has sinned against the light of conscience (law written on hearts), they will be judged by that standard.

The person who has the law and has sinned against the light of revelation will be judged by that standard.

Conclusion:

As we have tried to present the words of the Apostle Paul regarding the righteousness of God, I trust that we have acquired a new sense of appreciation for the holiness of God and have been reminded that each and every one of us will stand before Him some day. We must remember that, just like the Jews Paul is addressing, it is a danger for every person to begin to think that they have special standing and will receive favorable standing because of who we are. We are all going to be held accountable for the truth we’ve heard and for the light we’ve received.

As we recognize that truth and respond, it is so wonderful to know that Jesus Christ has made every provision necessary for the wrath of God to be satisfied and He has given His life so that we can live.

As we celebrate communion this morning, let us remember that His life was surrendered and willing given for ours.

Let us remember that His blood atones for all our sin and makes it possible for us to be forgiven and adopted into the family of God.